Ms Steele, who has worked for Lloydspharmacy’s parent company McKesson UK since 2011, will take over from the company’s outgoing superintendent pharmacist, Steve Howard.

Mr Howard announced his retirement last month (August 21) after 35 years with the company and is set to depart on December 31.

Ms Steele is currently Lloydspharmacy’s deputy superintendent and is also the multiple’s head of clinical governance and professional standards.

McKesson UK chief executive Toby Anderson said he is “delighted to congratulate” Ms Steele on her new appointment, both for the “opportunity it presents for her as an individual, and as the first female superintendent pharmacist in Lloydspharmacy’s history”.

He praised Ms Steele for her “integral role in the business’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on getting medicines to patients safely and the health and welfare of [its] colleagues”.

“Her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for the profession will be incredibly valuable in such a pivotal year for pharmacy,” Mr Anderson added.

Outside of McKesson UK, Ms Steele is also vice chair of the Community Pharmacy Patient Safety Group, and of the professional practice group for The Company Chemist’s Association.